Indisputable Authority

Indisputable Authority Indisputable Authority Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Obedience; Jesus teaches with authority in Capernaum; Authority; Follow Christ; Mission of Christ / Luke 4:31-44 We can trust the message of Jesus is true because He has demonstrable authority. Jesus's mission and purpose wasnt to demonstrate His authority but to proclaim His message of the good news of the Kingdom of God. Our response to Jesus message should be to recognize His authority and trust His message by following and obeying Him. Introduction 1. If you want something done you need to speak with one in authority a. Authority is defined as i. the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience ii. a person or organization having power or control in a particular, typically political or administrative sphere. b. Calling customer service centers i. The original person on the phone only has so much authority, you have to get their supervisor and so on and so on depending on what authority you need ii. Until you have the right authority - the response is I am sorry I am not authorized to do that I am only authorized so much 1. Isnt it refreshing when you dont have to climb the ladder and you get the person with the right amount of authority you need? 2. They have the power to handle your request and so they do 2. Someone recognized as an authority is recognized because of their power they exhibit a. control, influence or direct the actions of something or someone is exhibiting authority over it b. Having the right to say what it can or cannot do or what it will or will not do i. Authority is the ability to issue commands and also to punish violations of said commands 3. One can only speak and work within the authority that has been given to them a. For example - you cannot do something (as in the customer service department) something for which you have no authority b. If you arent a judge or the specific judge of a case no matter how times you declare someone not guilty it carries no weight c. You may be in a store but you cannot act with authority of that business - declaring a sale or free giveaways 4. Luke brings us to the story of Jesus where He is speaking His message with authority and He shows that He has the authority to back up His message › SLIDE Luke 4:31-33 CSB 31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbath. 32 They were astonished at his teaching because his message had authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man with an unclean demonic spirit who cried out with a loud voice, › SLIDE Luke 4:34-35 CSB 34 "Leave us alone! What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God!" 35 But Jesus rebuked him and said, "Be silent and come out of him!" And throwing him down before them, the demon came out of him without hurting him at all. › SLIDE Luke 4:36-37 CSB 36 Amazement came over them all, and they were saying to one another, "What is this message? For he commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!" 37 And news about him began to go out to every place in the vicinity. › SLIDE Luke 4:38-39 CSB 38 After he left the synagogue, he entered Simon's house. Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her. 39 So he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and began to serve them. › SLIDE Luke 4:40-41 CSB 40 When the sun was setting, all those who had anyone sick with various diseases brought them to him. As he laid his hands on each one of them, he healed them. 41 Also, demons were coming out of many, shouting and saying, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ. › SLIDE Luke 4:42-44 CSB 42 When it was day, he went out and made his way to a deserted place. But the crowds were searching for him. They came to him and tried to keep him from leaving them. 43 But he said to them, "It is necessary for me to proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because I was sent for this purpose." 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea. › SLIDE - Sermon in one sentence We can trust and obey the message of Jesus because He speaks with indisputable authority › SLIDE Through His Teaching › SLIDE Luke 4:31-32 CSB 31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbath. 32 They were astonished at his teaching because his message had authority. 1. Jesus taught on the Sabbath in Capernaum a. Capernaum was Jesus's headquarters for ministry i. Capernaum is where Jesus resided after leaving Nazareth before and this is where Jesus had been teaching before He went to Nazareth as we saw last week. b. Jesus was teaching at Capernaum on the Sabbath as was His custom wherever He was 2. The people were astonished with His message a. They were astonished because His message had authority i. In this era teachers of the Old Testament would rely heavily - not on their own understanding but heavily upon what others have taught traditionally One rabbi wrote "I have never in my life said a thing which I did not hear from my teachers" 1. The rabbis in Jesus day taught the people in this way a. They would read a scripture and then they would recite what all the other rabbis have said about said scripture i. "So and so said the scripture means such and such but rabbi whosoever says it in fact means "yadda yadda" ii. The teacher's authority was another teacher 2. Never actually explaining and most often confusing someone as to what the scriptures actually said ii. Jesus actually spoke authoritatively and interpreted and applied scripture b. Jesus spoke as one who did not need to depend or rely or hide by what someone else taught i. Message = logos in Greek and Jesus is called the Logos in John 1:1 › SLIDE He is the WORD - so teaching the word was easy for Him ii. The people marvelled - has anyone ever taught this way before? - They were astonished for His word possessed authority 1. It is only this kind of teaching that has any authority - because He is teaching the actual word of God - reading, explaining and applying it 2. For the first time they were hearing someone make God's word and truth clear › SLIDE Jesus spoke with authority through His teaching The word of God is where the authority is - not the opinions of man. Our teaching can have the same authority - only if we focus on teaching the Word of God › SLIDE Through His Command Over the Spiritual › SLIDE Luke 4:33-34 CSB 33 In the synagogue there was a man with an unclean demonic spirit who cried out with a loud voice, 34 "Leave us alone! What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God!" › SLIDE Luke 4:35-36 CSB 35 But Jesus rebuked him and said, "Be silent and come out of him!" And throwing him down before them, the demon came out of him without hurting him at all. 36 Amazement came over them all, and they were saying to one another, "What is this message? For he commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!" › SLIDE Luke 4:41 CSB 41 Also, demons were coming out of many, shouting and saying, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ. 1. Demons in the Synagogue a. A demon possessed person was attending church i. This is an odd occurence 1. We wouldnt expect to have demon possessed people attending church 2. but here is one and it is probably not the last one b. Why would he come to the synagogue? i. Probably not to come and hear the astonishing teaching of Jesus 1. He wasnt saved 2. We know that a believer is indwelt by the Spirit of God and God would not share His temple with demons ii. Doubt the demon was looking to be cast out either iii. What makes the most sense is to see that this demon came to cause a ruckus, disturb Jesus teaching and cause dissension and division 1. Verse 33 ends with the demon spirit crying out in a loud voice a. probably a chilling and demonic voice b. jumped up at the preaching of the word of God to disrupt and produce chaos and confusion c. Demonic Spirit cried out i. The demon recognized who Jesus was - the Holy One of God 1. You see that all demons recognize Jesus and verse 41 shows they all recognize them as the Son of God ii. At seeing Jesus and knowing who He was the demon expressed a fear or dread of what was to come 1. Have you come to destroy us? a. Is it the time of judgment yet 2. Knows there is a time when Jesus will judge and all demons will find their place in the lake of fire › SLIDE Matthew 25:41 CSB 41 "Then he will also say to those on the left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! a. The demon speaks plural because they all share the same fate - as does anyone who does not believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior 2. Jesus speaks in authority over the demon a. Jesus doesnt scream or panic or even get ruffled - He remains perfectly calm i. Only one in control of a situation can maintain this steady calm b. Verse 35 says Jesus simply rebukes the demon i. a rebuke is a sharp disapproval or correction because of someone's behavior or actions › SLIDE New American Commentary This involves not simply a moral censure or rebuke but rather an act of authority and power in which Jesus controlled and judged the demon. c. He commanded to demon "be silent and come out" - this was a test of His authority i. You only have authority over that which you can control or that which submits to you ii. Jesus in speaking this command to the demon is putting His authority on the line and displaying it for all to witness 1. Either the demon will obey proving His authority to be genuine 2. The demon will not obey - discrediting Jesus's authority iii. The demon at once threw down the man and came out of him - without hurting him at all 1. The stress of the language is on the simple statement of the miracle 2. This was a display of the omnipotent power of Jesus a. Demons do not control Jesus b. He is always in control and authority 3. Amazement among the crowd of witnesses a. What a church service - we should start doing that in our church services i. Look at what they were saying though - they attribute His message to what just happened 1. "What is this message? He commands unclean spirits with authority and power and they come out!" 2. The schucksters's of Jesus day plead with and begged demons - they would even call for higher powers - this may be why Jesus was accused of casting out demons by Beelzebub 3. Jesus had no fear of lacking any authority because He had been given all authority, power, and domain b. The people saw the power of Jesus words - His authority displayed in that what He commanded over the demons happened - because He had authority i. They began to see that He must have authority in His message that He is preaching as well ii. Jesus proclaimed the setting of captives free - those imprisoned by demons would be under that category 1. He just proved He has authority to preach that He came to set captives free › SLIDE Christian Standard Bible Chapter 4 For he commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!" › SLIDE Through His Command Over Sickness › SLIDE Luke 4:38-39 CSB 38 After he left the synagogue, he entered Simon's house. Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her. 39 So he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and began to serve them. › SLIDE Luke 4:40 CSB 40 When the sun was setting, all those who had anyone sick with various diseases brought them to him. As he laid his hands on each one of them, he healed them. 1. At Simon's house a. Jesus left the synagogue and He went literally across the street just about to Simon's house i. When arriving we read that Simon (Peter) has his mother-in-law there 1. Yes some of the apostles were in fact married - and it was ok › SLIDE 1 Corinthians 9:5 CSB 5 Don't we have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife like the other apostles, the Lord's brothers, and Cephas? ii. Other gospels record that Andrew (Peter's brother) and James and John (Zebedee) were there as well 1. Again this is out of chronology as the disciples will be called next chapter - Luke is continuing thematically b. Simon's mother in law is suffering from a high fever i. Luke is a doctor and this is a medical term - not just a fever but it is noted as a high fever ii. How many diseases do we have today - lots many are devastating and many we have no idea how to cure or treat 1. In Jesus time disease was more unknown and misunderstood than today 2. A simple fever could mean life or death 2. Jesus commands authority over sickness a. This story is in other Gospel accounts but they focus on the touch and taking of the hand i. Luke desires to show us Jesus absolute authority even over sickness in that he focuses on Jesus word › SLIDE Again we see that Jesus speaks with authority b. Jesus rebukes the fever i. He simply stands over her and speaks to the fever 1. Rebuking - exercising authority and displaying His power 2. Jesus simply speaks and the fever listens - even sickness obeys the word of Jesus ii. Immediately at Jesus word the fever leaves and strength returns - no need for recovery when Jesus speaks word into your life 1. The mother in law immediately arose and began serving them 3. At then end of Sabbath everyone comes a. During sabbath no one can come and no healing can happen (according to the pharisees) i. Sabbath is from Sundown to Sundown (we measure our days Sunrise to Sunrise or 12 AM to 12AM but the Jewish day was evening to the next evening (intereesting to note they began their days right before they rested) ii. At the end of Sabbath they brought the sick - why because word travels fast when someone commands demons out at church and then the same person speak away a fever b. Jesus healed all diseases brought to Him - various diseases › SLIDE With His words Jesus shows authority over sickness Conclusion › SLIDE Luke 4:42-44 CSB 42 When it was day, he went out and made his way to a deserted place. But the crowds were searching for him. They came to him and tried to keep him from leaving them. 43 But he said to them, "It is necessary for me to proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because I was sent for this purpose." 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea. 1. It seems the healings went well into the night for now it is day a. At day break Jesus went to find space alone b. The crowds searched for Him i. They wanted to keep Him there and keep Him from leaving 2. Why would they want Him to leave - He spoke like no one they ever heard before a. He commanded Gods Word b. He Commanded Demons c. He Commanded sickness › SLIDE Jesus did not come to perform miracles but to proclaim His message Jesus says it is necessary for me to proclaim the good news - He then says I WAS SENT FOR THIS PURPOSE The good news - 3 words in English one word in the Greek - evangelisasthai - evangelion is the root - which is Gospel Jesus came to proclaim the Gospel The Gospel is the message of Jesus and His miracles demonstrate He speaks with indisputable authority Our response to Jesus indisputable authority should be to follow and obey His message Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 1:02 PM October 4, 2019.